Writing & Rhetoric

The Writing That Gets Things Done

The Department of Writing & Rhetoric is a particularly exciting place to be. The Writing half of our name emphasizes the finer points of process, craft, and delivery, offering multiple opportunities for practice, feedback, and guidance. The Rhetoric half stresses the always situational and often public nature of our work, be it professional, academic, or technical. Together, Writing & Rhetoric is writing that gets things done: it is writing with consequences. In all that we do – our teaching and learning, our research and scholarship, our outreach and service – we balance these two important elements. Join us. We look forward to working with you.

Attention All Majors!

The Linda K. Shamoon Scholarship for Public Writing is awarded annually in the spring to a student who has successfully engaged the public through a writing project. The amount of the award varies, but past winners have received $300. Faculty nominate students for their outstanding work in public writing. While those who complete WRT303 (Public Writing) are automatically good candidates for this award, it can also be awarded to students in other courses who meet the below criteria.“An award for a sophomore or junior who is committed to public writing/community action and who has a deep understanding of rhetoric as a social good. This student will have demonstrated a willingness to go outside of the classroom and use his or her writing to change actual rules, ordinances, or laws.”

Featured Course Offer!

WRT353: Issues and Methods in Writing ConsultancyThis course trains undergrads, from as many departments or majors as possible, to be tutors or consultants. Those with a B+ or higher are eligible to tutor in the Writing Center for pay. Sections of WRT353 are open for enrollment during the Fall 2014, J-Term and Spring 2015 semesters!

Check out our UnClassroom Course Offerings!

UnClassroom courses prepare students for the fast-paced, collaborative, and creative work environments in which they will enter upon graduation. These classes entail real-world projects with a partner from a business, non-profit, social service, or other organization where students will assist in the creation of communication campaigns, videos, websites, and more.

WRT304: Writing for Community Service
Instructor: Caroline Gottschalk DruschkeWriting for Community Service, is offered in the fall only and serves as both a General Education (ECw) course and as an elective for Writing & Rhetoric majors. Through fieldwork, other research, writing, and design, students work with community partners to produce and deliver any type of text that the organization needs: reports, proposals, brochures, websites, etc. As an “UnClassroom” experience, you will leave campus to work on site, at, for example, the Department of Environmental Management.

WRT 388: Proposal Writing
Writing & Rhetoric is offering a new course, WRT 388: Proposal Writing with G-Tech, for Spring 2015. It is designed specifically as an UnClassroom experience that involves responding to professional CFP (call for proposals) sponsored by G-Tech, whose world headquarters are in Providence. Each semester’s CFP is different, and students work both individually and in teams on both written proposals and oral presentations. Students may be offered a paid internship with G-Tech following completion of the course.